Gage water-detector.



1. D. LEE

GAGE WATER DETECTOR.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. I0 1916.

Li2-3%,57 -L Patented July 10, 1917.

JAMES D. LEE, 0]? PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patent-ed July 11), 1917.

Application filed August 10, 1918. SeriaiNo. 114,146.

To all whom it may concern:

.Be it known that I, James D. LEE, 2. citizen of the United States, residing at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Gage Water-Detectors, of which the following is a specification.

My invention consists of an improved form of gage water detector, one of the objects being to provide a device which will render distinct the height of the water in water-gage'tubes or other containers.

Another object is to so make and locate my improved detector that it will not be injured by the breaking of the gage tubes.

A further object is to so make my imv proved detector that it will be of simple construction and can be manufactured and installed at a small cost.

These objects, and other advantageous ends which will be described hereinafter, I attain in the following manner, reference being had to the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a front elevation of a water column and water gage tube, such as is used in connection with a steam boiler, having my invention thereon. r

- Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary front elevationof my improved detector shown in connection with Figs. 1 and 3 inclusive and having a central longitudinally extending marking thereon, and

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary front elevation of my improved detector, the same being marked differently from that shown in Fig. 5.

Referring to the drawings, 1 is a water column having in connection therewith a water gage tube 2 which is preferably made of transparent glass, the opposite ends of the tube being in connection with the water column 1 through the medium of the couplings 3 and 1.

The coupling 4 is provided with a nozzle 5 which may be opened to drain the tube by the operation of the hand wheel (3. My improved detector consists of an elongated strip 7 made of metal or other suitable material which may not easily be broken. This ing bands are preferably split at 12 and surround the necks 13 and 1% of the couplings 3 and i respectively so as to secure said strip 7 The clamping bands 11 are provided with bosses 15 into which the screws 10 extend, said bosses also acting to space the strip 7 from the water gage tube 2 as clearly shown in Figs. 2, 3, and 4t.

The inner concaved surface 8 of the strip 7 is preferably painted white as shown at 16 as clearly shown in Fig. 5, and has a central longitudinally extending colored stripe 17. While 1 preferably make this stripe 17 of a red color, it will be understood that it may, if desired, be made of any color or may be made black if so desired, however, a color is preferable in view of the fact that the surroundings of a boiler are usually black.

By having the strip i located directly to the rear of and spaced from the tube 2, the

central color line 17 of the strip 7 will be magnified by the water within the glass tube 2 when viewed from the front, and the entire volume of the water within the tube will take the color of the stripe 17 so that the height of the water within the tube 2 may be readily detected or seen from a great distance.

The portion. of the stripe 17 which is above the water level within the tube, will be practically invisible since the glass tube without the water therein tends to make the stripe 17 appear narrower than it actually is and consequently from a distance the colored stripe above the water level will not be visible so that the only color which the observer sees from a distance is the color through the water within the glass tube 2. Thus, with my improved detector the entire volume of the water appears to be colored due to the fact that the water acts to magnify the stripe on the concaved surface of the strip 7, the white back ground acting to brighten said color.

The fact that the strip 7 is not connected directly to the glass tube 2, keeps said detector from becominginjured even though ice when connected to steam boilers or other pressure mechanisms.

Furthermore, the concaved formation of the inner surface 8 of the strip 7 causes it to follow the general contour of the cylindrical glass tube 2, andpermits the white edge portions of said strip to illuminate, by reflection, said tube, so as to assist in rendering the height of the water distinct.

My detector may be readily attached to any type of gage water tube or container, and is of such simple construction that it may be manufactured and sold at a reasonable cost.

While I prefer to use the marking of the detector as illustrated in Fig. 5, I may in some instances form dilierent markings, for example, as illustrated in connection with Fig. 6. In said latter figure, the inner surface 8 of the deflector has three ong'itudinal stri es or markings 18, 19,' and' y improved detectorinay be quickly and easily cleaned merely by wiping. the concaved surface 8 with a damp clothpr. other means.

While I have illustrated my detector in connection with one form of water -gage, it will be noted that it may be used in connection with any gage having a transparent tube or container, in each case the member 7 being located and secured to the rear of the tube and viewed through the transparent water gage tube.

While I have described my invention as taking a particular form, it will be understood that the various parts of my inven- Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. The combination of two couplings, a I

water gage tube extending between the couplings, clamping bands surrounding said couplings, a strip extending substantially parallel with the tube, the surface of said strip adjacent the tube having a marking thereon visible through the tube, and means for detachably securing the strip to said bands whereby the strip can be removed without changing the position of the bands on the couplin substantially as described.

2. The com mation of two couplings, a water gage tube extending between said couplings, a strip extending substantially parallel with the tube, the surface of said strip adjacent the tube having a marking thereon visible through the tube, means on said couplings providing tapped openings, and screws designed to engage said strip and the tapped openings, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification ll the two subscribing witnesses.

JAMES D. LEE.

presence of Witnesses:

C. R. ZIEGLER, CHAS. E. Po rrs. 

